Wisdom Tooth X-ray

The above dental xray is the right hand side view of a full face othopantanagram radiograph. The need to take such a radiograph in this instance is to investigate the partially erupted lower right third molar (wisdom tooth). As can be seen, this has a mesio-angular impaction against the distal aspect of the second molar. Of particular interest to the dentist in assessing this situation is the root morphology, bone density and the proximity to the inferior dental nerve canal shown by the pink dot. These are some of the factors taken into consideration when deciding and planning a wisdom tooth extraction.